FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Palm Beach County for Florida Survivors

Release date: 

September 19, 2017

Release Number: 

DR-4337-FL NR 015

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Wednesday, Sept. 20 in Palm Beach County to help Florida storm survivors.  The DRC will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday until further notice.

The DRC is at the following address:

Location:                   Carolyn Sims Center
                                   225 NW 12^th. Ave.
                                   Boynton Beach FL 33435

 Regular hours: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

As more centers open, survivors may locate one near them at https://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by calling FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.  That information is also available on the FEMA Mobile App.    

To speed recovery, survivors are urged to register before visiting a DRC.  To register, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.govor call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.  Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) seven days a week until further notice.  

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
• Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc., while visiting a DRC may call the Helpline number for support at 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at: fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/videos/111546.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews are canvassing affected areas and are able to register survivors for FEMA assistance, if needed.  When residents require further assistance, the teams may refer them to a DRC.

If already registered, it is not necessary to visit a DRC.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

For more information on the Palm Beach recovery, visit fema.gov/hurricane-irma.

HURRICANE IRMA RELIEF AND RECOVERY FUND

The funders in Palm Beach County have joined together to establish a coordinated Hurricane Irma Relief & Recovery Funding application process. This funding process will provide assistance to nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County whose facilities, services and clients have been impacted by Hurricane Irma. As of today, the following funders have made a commitment to review applications and coordinate funding for this effort:

• Allegany Franciscan Ministries

• Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County

• Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

• Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation

• JPMorgan Chase

• Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation

• Quantum Foundation

• United Way of Palm Beach County

Funding priorities for Hurricane Irma Relief and Recovery Funds include:

1. emergency food, shelter and other basic needs;

2. facility costs (repairs and relocation) not covered by FEMA or private insurance;

3. expansion of service capacity related to increased demand for direct services during or immediately following Hurricane Irma;

4. expenses that would allow continuation of services that otherwise would be interrupted.

Because we may receive a high volume of requests for these funds, applicants are advised that we do not expect to be able to cover all funding requests; and we may not be able to fund the full amount of each request. However, we are committed to make the best use of available resources to address the highest priority needs. To address these concerns, we have set the following limitations on applications:

- Applicants must be nonprofit organizations that provide services to Palm Beach and/or Martin County residents;

- Applicants must apply for assistance from FEMA, if applicable, and to their private insurance companies to cover the cost of repairs or replacements caused by Hurricane Irma;

- Nonprofit agencies that have business interruption insurance must submit claims for lost revenues to their insurance companies.

Applications are being received through the Community Foundation’s Gifts Online system at www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/gifts-online-main. Funding will be made directly from the participating funder to the applicant agency. Final funding decisions and reporting requirements are exclusively the purview of the participating funder.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the following:

Randy Palo

Children’s Services Council of PBC

Randy.palo@cscpbc.org

(561) 374-7597

Renee Constantino

Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties

rconstantino@cfpbmc.org

(561) 340-4511

If you do not have access to a computer, you may request a hard copy of the application and fax or deliver it to one of the contacts above.